Flower Maintenance

Instructions are provided in context of maintaining flowers in an indoor religious space.

Tips will apply for most indoor flowers in a drier climate with cold and hot seasons.

Aesthetics & Colours - Indoor Flower and Plant Care Guide

Flowers and plants enhance indoor spaces through their beauty, colour, and visual appeal. Thoughtful arrangements can create a welcoming atmosphere and complement the surrounding environment. When selecting flowers, consider how colours, shapes, and plant varieties work together to create a balanced display. Often, a simple arrangement using one or two complementary colours produces an effective result.

Certain arrangement will be preferred depending on the event or time of year.

Extending the Life of Fresh Flowers

Use cool water and fill vases only halfway, ensuring that stems are submerged while leaves remain above the waterline. Remove any leaves that fall into the water, as decaying plant material can promote bacterial growth and shorten flower life. This also applies to decorative greenery such as fern foliage.

Flower Specific Care

• Lilies and carnations are among the longest-lasting cut flowers.
• Remove lily stamens once the flowers open to reduce pollen staining and help maintain the appearance of the blooms.
• Roses can last 7 to 10 days with proper care. White and pink varieties tend to perform better indoors. Warm water may help unopened blooms develop more fully.

Watering

During the first week, top up the vase with fresh, cool water as needed. After the first week, completely replace the water, trim a small section from the bottom of each stem, and add flower food if available.

For arrangements in floral foam (oasis), ensure the foam remains fully saturated by watering it daily. If the foam dries out, the flowers may not recover. For florist-prepared foam arrangements, redistributing flowers into separate vases after several days may help extend their lifespan. Caring for Long-Term Indoor Plants

Apply a fertilizer stick or suitable plant fertilizer once per month during the growing season and less frequently during winter, following the manufacturer’s instructions.

• Mist leaves if appropriate for the plant species.
• Remove dry leaf tips, dead foliage, and spent flowers to maintain plant health and appearance.

Caring for Short-Term Flowering Plants

Water according to the plant’s needs and avoid allowing the soil to dry out completely unless the species requires it. Check the soil with your fingers and it should be moist not dried out. If less moist, add water. Avoid over watering where the water is pooling in the soil.

Remove any decaying leaves, stems, or flowers promptly to keep the plant healthy and attractive.